K-1 Visa

Good Morning!

I am wondering if anyone knows how long a K-1 Visa usually takes from start to finish? My fiance and I have the K-1 packet all finished and are about to send it off. I have looked up processing times, and it has stated it takes about 5 months for the petition to be completed. Does anyone know how long it takes for the Visa to be completed once the petition is complete? What are the steps for me in the process? I am a Canadian citizen, living in Canada......... I know I have to go to an American Embassy here in Canada for the interview, medical and all that other stuff as well........ Just curious how long the process takes and what steps I need to take. It has been 5 years now since we first met, and I am getting a bit tired of being away... The finish line is in sight!

Any answers would be appreciated!!

Thanks!

visajourney.com (VJ)has all the info and more that you need!. Only TWO USA consulates do the interviews--Montreal and Vancouver--based on where you live in Canada. And only certain physicians do the medical--again found on VJ. But any doctor can give you the required vaccinations--just take that along to the physical. As well if you have any serious medical problems, you may want ur family DR to write a letter explaining the situation---especially any one dealing with mental issues!

But check out VJ. Many people don't realize whats all associated with the k1 or any of the other type of visas and then they are shocked--ie you can't work right away, can't leave the USA (even to canada) until u get Advance parole (if u apply for it) or get the greencard! Leaving isnt the problem, getting back into the USA is, K1 is a 1 time use!! As well if you have enough qualify hrs, one can get Canadian Employment insurance, AFTER ur able to work----u get ur Emplyment Authorization document (EAD)

But look over VJ, you will find a lot of good info! And yes it takes anywhere from 5 months and even longer to get ur k1, many factors can effect the speed of the process.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic ... -and-info/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum ... rocedures/

http://www.visajourney.com/faq/k1faq.htm

http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/93-canada/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic ... ei-thread/

I entered the USA on a K-1 Visa on August 9 2011. We mailed in the application packet on September 1 2010 and I had my interview in June 2011. (I had to wait about a month longer than I should have because I was waiting for German paperwork.)

The process was fairly straightforward. After mailing my application in to the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) nothing really happened for five months. The five month approval time listed on the USCIS website is how long it takes THEM to deal with the application. After USCIS, your application will be sent to the National Visa Centre, and then to the embassy in Montreal. If you live close to Vancouver, Montreal will forward your visa there.

After your embassy has received your visa, you'll be invited to go to their website to set an appointment for your medical. You'll also receive a list of things that you need to collect in order to make your immigration appointment. I went to Vancouver, and my appointment was two weeks after I went to the website. The doctors office in Vancouver only processes Visa applications on Wednesday mornings. They do group appointments and it's at 6.30 am. If you're late, you miss it. After the medical (assuming you've collected the rest of the information on the list) you fax the checklist back to the embassy/consulate you're working with and they tell you to make an appointment for your interview. My immigration interview appointment was also two weeks after I got my invitation. K-3 visas are ONLY processed in Montreal- no matter where you're from. K-1 visas are processed both in Vancouver and Montreal.

You will be informed of your approval or denial at the interview. You leave your passport with the embassy, and they return it to you by UPS. You chose a UPS location to pick up your packet. you'll get an envelope that contains your passport, as well as another packet. DO NOT OPEN THIS PACKET. The packet just has all of the paperwork that you have submitted to the USCIS etc, but you are not aloud to open it. (It says on the packet in big letters. You won't miss it.) You surrender it to the customs agent when you cross the border. They usually have no idea what to do with it, so expect crossing the border to take some time.

After you cross, the customs agent will staple a white card into your passport. This is your arrival/departure card and it's REALLY important that you don't lose it. After you enter you have 90 days to marry your fiance and apply for adjustment of status. Adjustment of Status takes over a year to complete and you are NOT aloud to leave the USA while it's processing (even to go to Canada) unless you have Advance Parole (which, according to the lawyer we saw, is hard to get.) When you apply to adjust status you can also apply for a work permit. Normally this costs, but you don't have to pay for it as long as you're applying with your adjustment of status from a K-1.

Once your Adjustment of Status application has been sent in, you'll be told when and where to appear for a biometrics appointment. (You need to have your fingerprints and photograph taken-AGAIN.)

Read the documents and the letters that are sent to you carefully. Visa Journey is a great website, and the USCIS website has a lot of great information as well. I found that the book "US Immigration Made Easy" was helpful as well. As long as you're careful when you fill your paperwork in, you'll be fine.